Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022
BackgroundSinging in a choir was associated with larger outbreaks in the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Materials and methodsWe report on the effect and acceptance of various infection control measures on the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the world famous Domspatzen boys' choir f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1215678/full |
| _version_ | 1797751620009721856 |
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| author | Benedikt M. J. Lampl Benedikt M. J. Lampl Patricia Schöberl Noah Atzenbeck Michael Erdl Nepomuk Dillitzer Jakov Wallbrecher Marcus Weigl Michael Sauer Parastoo Kheiroddin Jakob Niggel Richard Mauerer Andreas Ambrosch Michael Kabesch |
| author_facet | Benedikt M. J. Lampl Benedikt M. J. Lampl Patricia Schöberl Noah Atzenbeck Michael Erdl Nepomuk Dillitzer Jakov Wallbrecher Marcus Weigl Michael Sauer Parastoo Kheiroddin Jakob Niggel Richard Mauerer Andreas Ambrosch Michael Kabesch |
| author_sort | Benedikt M. J. Lampl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSinging in a choir was associated with larger outbreaks in the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Materials and methodsWe report on the effect and acceptance of various infection control measures on the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the world famous Domspatzen boys' choir from March 2020 to April 2022.ResultsIn addition to basic general hygiene measures, systematic rRT-PCR testing and scientifically approved concepts of distancing during singing were applied. While single infections of choir members could not be avoided, singing-related outbreaks were not observed. Until the Omicron variant emerged, potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the school was limited to only one case. Incidences at the school were never higher than in the comparable general population until then. While the impact of the pandemic on daily life and singing was rated as severe, especially by staff members, most students agreed with the usefulness of protection measures and rated them as acceptable. Students viewed regular testing as the most important tool to increase safety in the school.DiscussionA bundle of infection control measures including regular testing can prevent outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 even in the setting of choir singing. Measures are acceptable for choir members if they allow to continue with singing and performing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:52:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9117b6e8a524e1496f29673b419581d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:52:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9117b6e8a524e1496f29673b419581d2023-08-08T11:10:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602023-08-011110.3389/fped.2023.12156781215678Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022Benedikt M. J. Lampl0Benedikt M. J. Lampl1Patricia Schöberl2Noah Atzenbeck3Michael Erdl4Nepomuk Dillitzer5Jakov Wallbrecher6Marcus Weigl7Michael Sauer8Parastoo Kheiroddin9Jakob Niggel10Richard Mauerer11Andreas Ambrosch12Michael Kabesch13Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Regensburg Department of Public Health, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyUniversity Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg, GermanyUniversity Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyMaganaMed GmbH, Regensburg, GermanySynlab Weiden GmbH, Weiden, GermanyInstitute of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hygiene, Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyUniversity Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyBackgroundSinging in a choir was associated with larger outbreaks in the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Materials and methodsWe report on the effect and acceptance of various infection control measures on the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the world famous Domspatzen boys' choir from March 2020 to April 2022.ResultsIn addition to basic general hygiene measures, systematic rRT-PCR testing and scientifically approved concepts of distancing during singing were applied. While single infections of choir members could not be avoided, singing-related outbreaks were not observed. Until the Omicron variant emerged, potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the school was limited to only one case. Incidences at the school were never higher than in the comparable general population until then. While the impact of the pandemic on daily life and singing was rated as severe, especially by staff members, most students agreed with the usefulness of protection measures and rated them as acceptable. Students viewed regular testing as the most important tool to increase safety in the school.DiscussionA bundle of infection control measures including regular testing can prevent outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 even in the setting of choir singing. Measures are acceptable for choir members if they allow to continue with singing and performing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1215678/fullSARS-CoV-2outbreaksrRT-PCR pool-testingbundle strategychoir singing |
| spellingShingle | Benedikt M. J. Lampl Benedikt M. J. Lampl Patricia Schöberl Noah Atzenbeck Michael Erdl Nepomuk Dillitzer Jakov Wallbrecher Marcus Weigl Michael Sauer Parastoo Kheiroddin Jakob Niggel Richard Mauerer Andreas Ambrosch Michael Kabesch Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 Frontiers in Pediatrics SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks rRT-PCR pool-testing bundle strategy choir singing |
| title | Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 |
| title_full | Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 |
| title_short | Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022 |
| title_sort | effects of infection control measures towards preventing sars cov 2 outbreaks in a german choir boarding school from march 2020 to april 2022 |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks rRT-PCR pool-testing bundle strategy choir singing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1215678/full |
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